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Live Free: Eliminate the If Onlys and What Ifs of Life
Women today need to be reminded that regardless of their situations, they have the power to control their attitudes. Kendra Smiley has written Live Free to teach women that they can make choices which will help them develop and maintain a positive state of mind. She introduces us to women who share their real-life experiences to show readers by example how to make those empowering choices.
176 pages, ebook
First published June 28, 2012
10 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Kendra Smiley
24 books17 followersKendra Smiley is a popular speaker and author who travels from coast to coast and internationally encouraging and equipping women, and specifically MOMS. She is the author of 10 books including her latest, Mother of the Year – 365 days of encouragement for devoted moms. Named the, Illinois Mother of the Year in 2001, Kendra hosts a daily radio show, Live Life Intentionally, heard coast to coast on over 350 stations and featuring her husband, John, as a weekly guest.
John who often travels and speaks with her is a retired USAFR pilot, flying a KC-135 for 30 years. He retired as Colonel Smiley, the Vice-Wing Commander of Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana. After retirement he took over the family farming operation.
The Smiley’s live on a farm in central Illinois. They are the parents of three married sons and have 11 grandchildren ages 9 and younger.
John who often travels and speaks with her is a retired USAFR pilot, flying a KC-135 for 30 years. He retired as Colonel Smiley, the Vice-Wing Commander of Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana. After retirement he took over the family farming operation.
The Smiley’s live on a farm in central Illinois. They are the parents of three married sons and have 11 grandchildren ages 9 and younger.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 7, 2021
Quick read with simple reminders of the love, hope, and peace God brings. The books shares short stories from real women. I enjoyed the storytelling format. Each section ends with reflection questions as well.
May 10, 2019
My favorite part of this book was the end of each chapter when the author rounded out their advice for living free in different situations. The stories throughout the book (that actually became the main point of the book) left me with mixed feelings... While some were interesting, they were all quite intense and similar and some of them I did not agree with doctrinaly.
I picked up this book because my theme of the year was "living free in Him" and I did gain some from it, but I don't think I would recommend this book to other necessarily.
I picked up this book because my theme of the year was "living free in Him" and I did gain some from it, but I don't think I would recommend this book to other necessarily.
November 16, 2020
I rediscovered my Nook during the pandemic. This little gem was on there...not sure how I didn't read it long ago...I've read most every book by Kendra Smiley. Talented and witty.
This book explains how to get rid of the 'waiting' and 'wishing' for the right time or circumstance in our lives to come along so that we can begin to LIVE. She explains how to CHOOSE to live above those things holding us back and live the full life God intended us to live.
She uses real-life people and stories to show us how others CHOSE to forgive, pray, be content, dream and hope, among others.
This book explains how to get rid of the 'waiting' and 'wishing' for the right time or circumstance in our lives to come along so that we can begin to LIVE. She explains how to CHOOSE to live above those things holding us back and live the full life God intended us to live.
She uses real-life people and stories to show us how others CHOSE to forgive, pray, be content, dream and hope, among others.
September 29, 2013
Do you live in a constant state of if only this would happen then my life would be better or if only that hadn't happened my attitude would be better? What about the what if questions--what if something bad happens? Worry has its own set of problems.
Kendra Smiley uses the real life stories of real women who have faced the if onlys and what ifs of life and chose not to live in fear and worry and not let their circumstances rob them of their joy and peace. They chose instead to be content and trust God to provide protection, provision and peace. They chose to dream, to hope and to respond rather than react.
Kendra's stories inspire and encourage. Most of the stories are extreme examples of how God works in the lives of His children. We will all experience struggles in our lifetime. The goal is to put our lives in God's control and trust Him. We should respond to the events of our life with faith and trust. Knowing there are people who have succeeded in responding in a godly way can encourage and inspire us to be the best Christians we can be.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from MP Press as part of Moody Publishers' Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Kendra Smiley uses the real life stories of real women who have faced the if onlys and what ifs of life and chose not to live in fear and worry and not let their circumstances rob them of their joy and peace. They chose instead to be content and trust God to provide protection, provision and peace. They chose to dream, to hope and to respond rather than react.
Kendra's stories inspire and encourage. Most of the stories are extreme examples of how God works in the lives of His children. We will all experience struggles in our lifetime. The goal is to put our lives in God's control and trust Him. We should respond to the events of our life with faith and trust. Knowing there are people who have succeeded in responding in a godly way can encourage and inspire us to be the best Christians we can be.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from MP Press as part of Moody Publishers' Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
July 21, 2013
From the publisher: Women today need to be reminded that regardless of their situations, they have the power to control their attitudes. Kendra Smiley has written Live Freeto teach women that they can make choices which will help them develop and maintain a positive state of mind. She introduces us to women who share their real-life experiences to show readers by example how to make those empowering choices.
This was a great little book, that shows you no matter what situation you are in God is there with you.
By sharing short stories from real life situations, we learn about "what if", choosing forgiveness, choosing joy, and much more. This is a great reminder that life is made up of choices, and this book helps to look at the positive choices.
This would be a good book to do a Bible study with.
I received this book free from the publisher . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This was a great little book, that shows you no matter what situation you are in God is there with you.
By sharing short stories from real life situations, we learn about "what if", choosing forgiveness, choosing joy, and much more. This is a great reminder that life is made up of choices, and this book helps to look at the positive choices.
This would be a good book to do a Bible study with.
I received this book free from the publisher . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 15, 2016
This ebook was free when I downloaded it from Barnes and Noble to my Nook library. I enjoy inspirational books, and I do not enjoy heavy handed proselytizing from born-again Christians.
This book offers study questions at the end of each chapter so it might be suitable for a Christian book club, and that target market is the only one to whom I might recommend this book.
This book offers study questions at the end of each chapter so it might be suitable for a Christian book club, and that target market is the only one to whom I might recommend this book.
April 17, 2013
Nice devotional with touching stories about people who have survived "what-if" situations. Excellent overview of the positive things we can intentionally choose on a daily basis to live the abundant life that Jesus promised and to be a positive influence on those we come in contact with.
May 3, 2014
A quick read that is filled with stories of women who have faced real-life challenges and how they chose to overcome them... "Every life event, large or small, presents you with the choice of how you will respond" - Kendra Smiley.
November 13, 2012
What a wonderful book. Really gave me hope and examples of how to overcome the what ifs and if only's. By trusting in God anything is possible.
November 3, 2014
Excellent book which was exactly what I needed to hear at this point in my life. I'm sure I will re-read it in the coming months and years.
Heartedly give it 5 stars!
Heartedly give it 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews